Klarinet Archive - Posting 000431.txt from 2001/12

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Public Retraction, Stephen Fox NX Clarinet
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 09:43:03 -0500

Part 2 (you can skip this part if you want)

The reason I reacted to quickly and negatively to the instrument in the first
place is simple, but it applies specifically to the way I play the clarinet.

I have played the same mouthpiece for 10 years. I am very comfortable playing
it. I forget that there are people (like my friend Tony Pay) who have
literally played hundreds of different mouthpieces in concerts. The thought
of doing this makes me shake my head.

Those of you who have played a lot in orchestra and in chamber music know how
small the tolerance for error is in playing the clarinet. Constantly changing
equipment simply won't work for me. I need to know right where everything is.
When I need a ppp attack above the staff, I know it will be there for me on
the setup I currently play (and in tune). If I changed to another mouthpiece,
even one that seems very fine for the first hour, I don't know where I will
be in 6 weeks! Too much risk for me.

So when I tried this NX clarinet only to discover that to even give it a
trial I would have to play another mouthpiece, I was pretty turned off. Now,
if I had discovered some kind of inherent advantage to the design itself, I
would have been more positive. But at least for me, it seemed (and still
seems, frankly) that even at its best, this model is perhaps equal to what we
already have to chose from.

Incidentally, the reason I have not commented on the SOUND of the clarinet on
the recording is because I am not in a position to judge. Mr. Fox's concept
of sound is different from my own, as is his way of playing. He gets a nice
sound from the instrument, but I have no reference of his playing on any
other clarinet. In any case, the sound of any instrument is 98% dependant on
the person playing it.

So, there will probably be some people who come to the NX and discover
exactly what they have been missing in other clarinets. The instrument is a
legitimate alternative, in my (revised) opinion.

David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com

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